Hadiya Pendleton was shot to death just days after a visit to Washington, D.C. for President Obama's second inauguration

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A floral arrangement is delivered at the Greater Harvest Missionary Baptist Church for the funeral service of Hadiya Pendleton Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, in Chicago. The shooting death of the 15-year-old honor student has drawn attention to the staggering gun violence in the nation's third-largest city. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Updated at 3:40 PM EDT on Saturday, Feb 9, 2013

First Lady Michelle Obama and hundreds of mourners attended a funeral for 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton Saturday morning at the Greater Harvest Baptist Church.

The service began shortly after 11 a.m. to a packed room.

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Hadiya Pendleton was shot to death blocks from her school and about a mile from the president and first lady's Chicago home. Mary Ann Ahern reports. (Published Thursday, Feb 7, 2013)

"Hadiya was too young to leave us but not too young to make a mark," Pendleton's pastor Courtney Maxwell said at the start of the service.

One of Pendleton's close friends remembers their last moment together.

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Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said he believes Michelle Obama's visit "is rightfully bringing attention to the problems that every urban center in this country is experiencing every single day." (Published Friday, Feb 8, 2013)

"Her smile lit up a room," she said. "The last thing I saw before they put her in that ambulance was her smile and I know she's smiling down on us now."

Hadiya's mother Cleopatra Pendleton thanked everyone for the kind words that were spoken about her daughter.

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"I can stand up here and say my baby girl was good," she said. "But for all you to say she's good... that means something."

Cleopatra Pendleton also thanked her family for the support she received since her daughter passed.

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Pastor Ira Acree said it will take more than just prayer to see change and urged his members to hit the streets with petitions for sensible gun legislation. Emily Florez reports. (Published Monday, Feb 4, 2013)

"You don't know how hard this really is," she said. "And for those of you that do know, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Though the family strived to keep the focus on Pendleton the First Lady's visit has drawn attention not only to her death but to the ongoing issue of gun violence.

Pendleton's godfather said he thinks her passing will help raise awareness for those who have lost their lives to violence.

"She is a representative to not only the people of Chicago but to the people of this nation who have lost their lives," he said.

One of her friends said he was being realistic about the situation because Pendleton "always kept it real."

"This is life," he said. "This is Chicago."

A letter from President Obama offering his condolences to her parents, Nathaniel and Cleopatra Pendleton, was printed on the back of the program.

"We will continue to work as hard as we can to end this senseless violence," the letter read.

According to the program, Illinois Secretary of State Jessie White will speak during the service.

Pendleton was killed last Tuesday at Kenwood Park on the city's South Side days after she performed at some of President Barack Obama's recent inauguration festivities. She was shot to death blocks from her school and about a mile from the president's and first lady's Chicago home.

Hundreds flocked to pay their respects for the slain teen and emotions were high.

The church quickly filled to maximum capacity before the service began and many people were turned away, though a large group remains gathered outside.

Some of Pendleton's classmates were emotional when they couldn't get in and cried outside the church.

One man was arrested after a fight broke out among the line of mourners stretching down South State Street.